Men were careful
The sea was beautiful
Men were careful
Because they wanted to be—
Fruits on the other shores,
Ladies and babies
The touch of some sickness
Holy mothers' sweet callings
But the creatures were wild
Vivid, rarely mild
Torso of a deity
Tail of a fiend
One of them more enchanted
Than the rest of her tribe
Hair roared,
Dainty pipes swore
A tale of bittersweet delight
And promises of war
Men should be careful
The mermaid was just curious
The sailors took only a part of her heart
Enough to turn the sea furious
The heart dissolved in the foam of its home
But the remnants of men never
Touched their beloved shores:
Saltwater burial
Sad and surreal
© Sheena Shah. All Rights Reserved.